diff --git a/tools/leaderelection/leasecandidate.go b/tools/leaderelection/leasecandidate.go
index fa07066f0..c75fc3bdf 100644
--- a/tools/leaderelection/leasecandidate.go
+++ b/tools/leaderelection/leasecandidate.go
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ func NewCandidate(clientset kubernetes.Interface,
 	h, err := leaseCandidateInformer.AddEventHandler(cache.ResourceEventHandlerFuncs{
 		UpdateFunc: func(oldObj, newObj interface{}) {
 			if leasecandidate, ok := newObj.(*v1alpha1.LeaseCandidate); ok {
-				if leasecandidate.Spec.PingTime != nil {
+				if leasecandidate.Spec.PingTime != nil && leasecandidate.Spec.PingTime.After(leasecandidate.Spec.RenewTime.Time) {
 					lc.enqueueLease()
 				}
 			}
@@ -177,7 +177,6 @@ func (c *LeaseCandidate) ensureLease(ctx context.Context) error {
 	klog.V(2).Infof("lease candidate exists. Renewing.")
 	clone := lease.DeepCopy()
 	clone.Spec.RenewTime = &metav1.MicroTime{Time: c.clock.Now()}
-	clone.Spec.PingTime = nil
 	_, err = c.leaseClient.Update(ctx, clone, metav1.UpdateOptions{})
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/tools/leaderelection/leasecandidate_test.go b/tools/leaderelection/leasecandidate_test.go
index 92dc199f0..c50059180 100644
--- a/tools/leaderelection/leasecandidate_test.go
+++ b/tools/leaderelection/leasecandidate_test.go
@@ -130,7 +130,6 @@ func pollForLease(ctx context.Context, tc testcase, client *fake.Clientset, t *m
 		if lc.Spec.BinaryVersion == tc.binaryVersion &&
 			lc.Spec.EmulationVersion == tc.emulationVersion &&
 			lc.Spec.LeaseName == tc.leaseName &&
-			lc.Spec.PingTime == nil &&
 			lc.Spec.RenewTime != nil {
 			// Ensure that if a time is provided, the renewTime occurred after the provided time.
 			if t != nil && t.After(lc.Spec.RenewTime.Time) {